This is a great item. Firebirds by Charles Demoulin gives a gripping account of the young Belgian pilot who escaped to England to fight in the RAF. He was badly wounded in the escape but eventually joined 609 Sqn after training on spitfires and then fighting in the Hawker Typhoon. This 1987 1st Ed Hardback is a special edition with an original drawing remarque of 609 spitfire and typhoon pilot Joe Atkinson who flew with Demoulin and mentioned in the book. Mounted underneath the portrait is the genuine signature of ‘Joe’ Atkinson. Demoulin himself eventually became CO of 609 Sqn. The book is clean and tight with a complete and bright dustjacket.
As a flight lieutenant with No. 609 Squadron, Joe Atkinson completed 45 operational sorties in aircraft including Spitfires and Typhoons, contributing to ground attack and fighter operations for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1944